St. Paul daily globe., 1887-09-05
The Civil Service Commits
sioners Report on the See
berger-Webster Case.
Evidently the Matter Was
Stirred Up to Make Re-
publican Capital,
And Commissioner Edgerton
Has the Courage to Say
Very Flatly
That Defeat Of the Present
Administrations is the I'M
pelling Force.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-The civil
service commission has submitted to the
president the report of its investigation
in April last of the complaint made by
George A. Webster against Anthony F.
Seeberger, collector of the port of Chi
cage, and transmitted to the president
by the Civil Service Reform League of
Chicago, and by him offered to the COM
mission, charging violations of the civil
service law. The report consists of the
''OpiniOn of the Commission" which is
signed by Commissioners Oberly and
Lyman; a report to the commission by
Commissioner EdgertOn and another by
Commissioner Lyman, who confines
submitted at the investigation. The opin-
ion of the commission as submitted to the
president says that the complaint of Mr..
Webster is, in substance, that he was
compelled to resign place in th. ap-
praiser's office of the Chicago customs
district; that this cOmpulsiOn was eX-
ercised upon not because he was ineffi-
cient, undutiful, inSubordinate or dis
honest, or for any other cause, but be-
cause he was Republican and the col
lectOr desired to put Democrat into
the place by him. In his letter
of complaint Mrs. Webster says that
after receiving notice that his resigna-
tiOn was demanded, he called upon the
collector and was informed that no COM
plant had been urged against his
official conduct and ability, which were
|. excellent, but that owing to
+ A GREAT PRESSURE
there was necessity that vacancies
,ShOn16 no InoHQ and thGt tho onIlactor
at this interview said: ''YOu must re-
member that our party has been out of
power for twenty-five years, and you
should be thankful for having been
allowed to stay two years under a
Democratic administration" Webster,
the opinion continues, was compelled to
resign. Collector Seeberger replied that
his request for WebSter'S resignation
had been made for reasons amply
1 strong, and that he had acted in strict
conformity with the civil service law. as
fore the commission, Mr.. Seeberger de-
MED having said anything to Mr.. Web
ster that could be construed into
declaration that the request for his
resignation was prompted by political
reasons. "The reasons for his removal"
said Mr.. Seeberger, ''were in my own
mind and keeping" and these he re-
fused to state. The opinion observes
that while Mr.. Seeberger states en-
phatically that he did not say to
Mr.. Webster that his resignation
has been demanded for political rea-
sons, he did not inform him that such
ton attention is called to the fact that
MIR. Webster was not, so far as the evil
dence shows, given the benefit of the
law which requires the heads of eXecu-
tive departments, in making reduction
of force, to retain those persons who
may be equally qualified, who have
been
HONORABLY DISCHARGED
soldiers or sailors Mr.. Webster, says
the opinion, is an honorably discharged
wounded soldier. He passed the civil
service customs examination with an
average of 90.5 per cent, and his con-
factory during his probationary term,
he was absolutely appointed. He was
afterwards promoted for faithful and
efficient service. His competency Col
lector Seeberger does not deny. That
Webster was an offensive partisan
is not shown by the testimony.
In the affidavit made by him he swears
that he was never a politician; had
never attended caucus or convention
as delegate and but once as specta-
tor. He adds: ~ have, however,
strong, honest political views, which 1
have always held, in a quiet and gentle
rights of others who might differ with
me-" Strong political views, says the
opinion, Mr.. Webster had right to en-
tertain; and during the time he held
public place, it was his right to give, at
proper times, strong expression to those
views. The opinion is not to be toler-
ated that because man occupies a
place in the classified civil service he
must therefore surrender his right to
take an interest in the politics of the
country. No good citizen will do so,
vance the interest OF the party opposed
to the administration should, provided
his
PARTISAN ACTIVITY
in no way interferes with his public
duties, render Insecure in the service of
the government the position of any per-
son who does not occupy a place. the
discharge of the duties of which affects
public policies. The opinion suggests
that if the rule which obtains in the
treasury department requiring a reason
to be given for every dismissal or forced
resignation were observed in the adj
branches of the executive civil service,
there would be no difficulty in arriving
at speedy and definite conclusions upon
complaints of the kind under considera-
ton; but while appointing officers have
the right to retain within their own
minds and keeping the reasons
for the rsmOvalS made bv
them, they may abuse their power with
shameful impunity and in abuses of
this kind remain unchallenged. The
opinion criticiseS what it terms 'sCom-
missioner EdgertOn's evident attempt to
justify Collector Seeberger in his refusal
to permit the reasons he had for de-
manding Mr.. Webster'S resignation to
escape from his own mind and keep
fng,'" and the position taken by the
commissioner, that rule requiring rea-
sons for such removal would result in
the restriction of the power of removal.
is pronounced untenable. The practice
as now in vogue in the treasury depart
ment and in the Chicago postoffice is
cited in support of this position. The
opinion maintains that
THERE is NO CAUSE
why reasons should not be given for re-
moyals, as the appointing officer neither
owns the Office occupied by him, nor the
office occupied by the persons under his
supervision. "He is not the employer
of his subordinates. He is not mas
ter. He is servant, a servant of the
people, and certainly no good reason
can be given why he, in serving the
people, should be permitted to hold IN
his own mind and keeping his reasons
for doing or refusing to do anV act in